daggins

QUOTE (Tannerfan @ Apr 17, 2010 -> 08:04 PM) While I'm disappointed with the start, I'm really not surprised by it. I felt that with this number of changes in the lineup it was going to take some time to get things to gel. It's important to remember that all of these losses with the exception of Garcia's start in Toronto, have all been close games. And while I think getting Juan Pierre was a mistake, and batting Kotsay 5th is a really big mistake, there is time for this team to pull together and have a very good season. I think the big fear is the Twins not just pulling away, but that they are a very good team. Probably as good as the Yankees, and better then the Red Sox and Tampa Bay. If this is the case we will not be able to catch them because they have joined the elite of the American League. the Twins pitching, in particular, is playing over their abilities right now. Pavano isn't a sub-2-ERA pitcher, just like how Rauch isn't going to save 45-50 games. They aren't as good as any of those three teams, but a lot better than the Sox.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Apr 17, 2010 -> 07:59 PM) We need a lot more than one bat to be on the twins level. A lot The Twins aren't going to be this good all year, and the discrepancies between the two teams should narrow. That said, it is definitely true that one bat isn't going to fix everything and make this a playoff/championship team. I would certainly be hesitant if I were KW, since we could upgrade at several positions instead of just one.

Nah, Flowers and Danks should be in MiLB until there is an opportunity for them to play every day. I mean if AJ and Pierre keep OPSing 500 then that won't be an issue, but they probably won't. Hudson should be in a Sox uniform much faster.

I wonder how long it takes KW to give Hudson and Flowers a try? I would think theyd have to be pretty far out of it, but judging by how things are going, that won't be an issue. Now is the point in the season where I start considering trade value for our starters. I know its early, the hitters are impossibly bad, but really, it doesn't look like all those ifs that had to pan out for us to win are going to pan out. 12 games ain't much but if you don't see a pattern then I dunno what you're looking at.

Starting pitching - B. There's been some bumps, and Peavy is worrying, but its early and everyone has performed more or less to expectations Bullpen - A. Pleasantly surprised with the depth and overall quality of the pen so far. Keep up the good work. Defense - C. About as advertised. Teahen has been pretty awful, and Alexei is still screwing up, but the team looks faster and rangier overall, especially the outfield. Offense - F. Big stinking load of crap. Four of our regulars (Pierre, AJ, Alexei, Kotsay) are OPSing 500 or less. The guys that flash power haven't driven anybody in besides themselves. No one gets on base, no one scores, everyone looks awful at the dish, and everyone groans when Kotsay or AJ or Alexei GIDP. This is not a competitive offense and will likely be a point of contention as the team plods on, like last year, failing to score consistently or build momentum and staying around .500.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 16, 2010 -> 09:28 PM) "New-look lineup for Saturday - according to Oz, Teahen and AJ will be moved up, while Jones is moved back in. Still searching." per Cowley Move them up to where? Teahen could bat 5th right now, as bad as this team is, but AJ is what, 7th? I think he's fine at 7. I'll be happy when Oz moves Pierre to the 9 hole. So in other words, never.

Hitting the ball will do that. Let Donny have his hot streak. Also, this pen is gonna be epic when they actually have a lead to protect.

Pierre will normalize and be a ~300/330 or so hitter. Kotsay is likely to be much worse.

Ricky Romero is a first round draft pick and a pretty solid pitcher overall. He looked really good tonight and clearly there wasn't enough work done prepping for this game. That said, this isn't like getting shut out by Adam Eaton or anything. I would like to see Rios lead off sometime soon. It seems silly to waste outs on Pierre when Alex is clearly swinging the hot bat.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 11:08 PM) It's too early in the season to draw conclusions about anything with Peavy. I'm sure if he has 2-3 more starts like tonight, we'll have a lot more information to go on as far as him having a "dead/tired" arm that all pitchers go through, especially coming out of ST. If he's still pitching like this in May, then obviously Daniel Hudson will be back in the rotation and Peavy will be on the DL or consulting with Dr. James Andrews. But I'm thinking it's more mechanical and early season rust, rather than something more insidious or nefarious. Lets all hope you are right.

I'd rather have a closer who doesn't walk as many as he K's. Not only does that make you a bad closer, it makes you a bad reliever.

QUOTE (Reddy @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 11:05 PM) so this Verlander fellow has given up 10 ER in 10 IP... but he blows so whatever. He is still throwing 95-98MPH last I heard. Like some have said, loss of velocity is a huge red flag and the next couple of starts for Peavy are going to be tense and closely watched i'm sure.

QUOTE (ScottyDo @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 10:21 PM) who leads off with pierre on the bench? vizquel? beckham? certainly not alexei till he gets his head on straight Rios, I hope.

I'm more concerned about his FB velocity being way down than his not being able to locate.

There should be no platoon. Jones shoud DH/LF/RF, Kotsay should be an off-the-bench option, and other starters like Q, Kong and Pierre should rotate in when they need a day off.

I'm just worried that taking Jenks out of the pressure cooker will make him a terrible reliever. We all know the stereotype about Jenks in non-save situations.

QUOTE (Real @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:50 PM) We need a new closer. Fortunately we have a few options. Putz, Santos and Thornton all looking good so far.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 09:54 PM) The Teahammer has struck. I didn't see the first innings, what was wrong with Jake? He is throwing 90mph fastballs, for one thing.

whew. Ok Ozzie I have formulated tomorrow's lineup. No no don't argue you are a dumb dumb man and need to be shown that Juan Pierre is bad. Rios, Beckham, Q, Konerko, Teahen, Jones, AJ, Alexei, Pierre

Apparently Toronto is not a big fan of this Alex Rios fellow.

QUOTE (jphat007 @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 02:01 PM) Only two base hits have scored a run all year that weren't HRs. Rios and Teahen's doubles. That's it. Thats some scary s***. It is hard to score runs when you are putting 4 or more black holes in your lineup.

So how bad CAN a team with this good a pitching staff be?

The point is he shouldn't have that many ABs. He should be batting 9th, or not be starting.

Yeah I could pretty easily see BJ getting non-tendered next offseason.

QUOTE (SoxFan1 @ Apr 10, 2010 -> 12:10 AM) You know, I hate to bring it up, but what exactly is Greg Walker doing? Basically everyone but Beckham and Rios has a horrible approach at the plate. They're all lunging for pitching. Quentin did it multiple times, Jones did it, Pierre's been doing it. They're rolling over on everything on the outer half and grounding out weakly. And even when they're taking pitches, they're so far out in front. Sit back and shoot the ball the other way, it's not a very hard concept. I don't want to turn this into a Crucify Greg Walker Thread - already too many of those - but last year the management blamed the players for this kind of lack of focus/effort, and now there are a whole lot of new players, and the same crap is happening...